BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 436 Page 1 Date of Hearing: July 3, 2013 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Mike Gatto, Chair SB 436 (Jackson) - As Amended: April 3, 2013 Policy Committee: Natural ResourcesVote:6-3 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: No SUMMARY This bill clarifies and expands specified California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) notice procedures, and clarifies public meeting requirements for scoping meetings called pursuant to CEQA. Specifically, this bill: 1)Clarifies that scoping meetings, required to be held by lead agencies for certain highway projects and other projects of statewide, regional, or areawide significance, are public meetings. 2)Requires a lead agency to provide specified notices, including preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) or negative declaration, to: a) Responsible and trustee agencies. b) The project applicant and the applicant's duly authorized agent. c) The State Clearinghouse. FISCAL EFFECT Negligible state costs. COMMENTS 1)Purpose and Background. According to the author, this bill addresses concerns regarding late comments on CEQA environmental documents by increasing and clarifying the SB 436 Page 2 parties and entities who must receive public notice regarding the comment periods and public hearings on proposed projects. This bill specifically requires lead agencies to notify responsible and trustee agencies, third-party project applicants, and the State Clearinghouse. For the first two, the bill specifically permits electronic mail notification. CEQA requires a lead agency with the principal responsibility for carrying out or approving a proposed project to prepare a negative declaration, mitigated negative declaration, or environmental impact report (EIR) unless the project is exempt. Lead agencies are required to make these and other documents, including notices available to the public. Lead agencies are also required to hold at least one scoping meeting for proposed projects of statewide, regional, or area-wide significance. This bill clarifies that scoping meetings are open to the public. Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916) 319-2081